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A Tale of Two Cities/Oliver Twist/Great Expectations [DVD]

Dirk Bogarde , Alec Guinness , David Lean , Ralph Thomas    Parental Guidance   DVD
4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
Price: £6.75 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Frequently Bought Together

A Tale of Two Cities/Oliver Twist/Great Expectations [DVD] + Charles Dickens' Scrooge [DVD] [1951]
Price For Both: £14.33

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Product details

  • Actors: Dirk Bogarde, Alec Guinness, John Mills, John Howard Davies, Robert Newton
  • Directors: David Lean, Ralph Thomas
  • Format: PAL
  • Language: English
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Number of discs: 3
  • Classification: PG
  • Studio: ITV DVD
  • DVD Release Date: 6 Oct 2008
  • Run Time: 336 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B001F6Q34U
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 25,302 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)

Reviews

Product Description

Three classic films adapted from novels by Charles Dickens. In 'A Tale of Two Cities' (1958), Sydney Carton (Dirk Bogarde) is a frivolous London barrister, hopelessly in love with Lucie (Dorothy Tutin), even after she marries Charles Darnay (Paul Guers), who is descended from an unpleasant French aristocrat. Darnay is lured back to France as the Revolution gets into swing where he is arrested and awaits execution. Sydney, seeing Lucie's despair, goes to France, frees Charles and takes his place in the queue for the guillotine. In 'Oliver Twist' (1948), Oliver (John Howard Davis) is a young orphan boy who is expelled from the workhouse run by Mr Bumble (Francis L. Sullivan). After becoming an apprentice to an undertaker Oliver decides to run away to London, only to meet the Artful Dodger (Anthony Newley) and fall amongst his gang of thieves, led by the scheming Fagin (Alec Guinness). Finally, in 'Great Expectations' (1946), orphan Pip (Anthony Wager) befriends an escaped convict before being elevated to higher circles as the companion of mad Miss Havisham (Martita Hunt) and her niece, Estella (Jean Simmons), with whom the boy quickly falls in love. When the adult Pip (John Mills) discovers a mysterious benefactor has paved the way for him to become a gentleman, he assumes Miss Havisham is responsible.


Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5 stars
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Too good 14 July 2010
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I saw this edition of Great Expectations first when I was 10 and have never forgotten it. Now in my 70's I found that the young Pip, Estelle and the frissons of fear of meeting the convict in the graveyard, hadnt lost anything with the passage of time, also the slight deception of the older Pip & Estelle who lacked the magic of their childhood versions. Jo was one of the most superbly acted parts, his simple dignity evokes a little tear of sympathy. The print was as clear as a bell. Oliver Twist was good too, Alec Guiness an excellent Fabian (he was also superb as the pale young gentleman in Great Expectations). This a grimmer story tho with a happy ending. I loved seeing both. Havnt seen the third yet.
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29 of 31 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars 3 Great films 8 Oct 2009
Format:DVD
This remarkable collection of films was a bargain price-wise but artistically also. Nobody forgets in GE - Magwitch launching himself at the inncoent Pip in the graveyard, or in fact the juvenile reply regarding his brother's and sisters - lying in a little row. Acting and direction of the highest quality indeed and this carries over to 'Two cities' as well. True, Bogarde was to go on to become one of Europe's most enduring talents and was perhaps still afflicted by matinee status during this film, but the energy and focus are already apparent, almost nonchalantly deployed. Oliver Twist of course just grabs you in the heart and even has the butchest of us fending off the odd tear. Highly recommended brilliant direction from the legendary David Lean makes this a not to be missed collection.
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The Whole is Greater than the Parts 30 Aug 2011
By Nicholas Casley TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have a problem with Dickens: his characters are too Manichean, either wholly good or wholly bad. The same can be said for this collection of British movies based on adaptations of his works, but in this instance all three movies are (almost) wholly good. The DVD set was initially purchased by me primarily for my collection of Dirk Bogarde movies, but having watched all three films more than twice, I conclude that this is a fantastic selection. Each film (using the Amazon criteria) merits four stars, but in this instance the whole is greater than the parts and merits five.

The oldest feature here is David Lean's `Great Expectations' of 1946 in its BFI restoration. It has a fantastically atmospheric production design. Its only misfortune for me is that I had already seen Charlotte Rampling play Miss Havisham: anyone else playing this role is going to be an anticlimax. For this disc, the only extra worth listing is the stills gallery.

David Lean repeated his Dickens triumph two years later with probably the most renowned `Oliver twist' ever seen on film. Another BFI restoration, its opening shots of extreme weather and his brilliant use of dramatic shadows makes the film a masterpiece of its day. The extras include a contemporary casting appeal by Tony Wager (who played the young Pip in `Great Expectations'); some good production stills; and a twenty-four-minute documentary from 2000 in which various members of the production crew provide some background information. (It's a shame the late John Howard Davies does not appear.)

`A Tale of Two Cities' of 1958 was directed by Ralph Thomas. In his biography of Bogarde, John Coldstream described the star's part as Sydney Carton as one of those that boosted his sex appeal, "that transformed him from `put to bed' to `take to bed'." There are, though, problems with this film that cannot be gone into here, but it is nevertheless imaginatively put together. Thomas apparently deliberately shot it in black and white, but I wonder if the 4:3 screen ratio is original: there is no reference to this being a BFI restoration. Anyway, the disc comes with written biographies of Bogarde, Thomas, and Dorothy Tutin; lots of excellent still shots taken behind-the-scenes; and another twenty-four-minute documentary from 2000 in which Thomas, Tutin, and Christopher Lee appear.

All in all this is a fantastic selection that is entertaining on so many levels and is equally good value for money for any student of the cinema.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars A Tale of Two Cities/Oliver Twist/Great Expectations [DVD
Bought for a friend's birthday and very pleased with the swift delivery and friend was happy with this and enjoying the films
Published 1 day ago by Thurn
4.0 out of 5 stars Classic films
The age of black and white films is no longer with us. Their art and skill was in the use of light and shade. The story stood on its own merits. Read more
Published 4 days ago by B Jervis (New Zealand)
5.0 out of 5 stars It was Great (expectations)
What I have seen of the set (and so far that is only "A Tale of Two Cities") was as I remembered, splendid.
Published 2 months ago by Mr. G. D. Stevens
5.0 out of 5 stars Class DVD
Bought as a present for my grandaughter age 12 as she wanted to watch Great Expectations after readin g the book . Really enjoyed the film which was true to the book . Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mrs. Barbara M. Twigg
5.0 out of 5 stars Good classic films
They don't make them like this any more - It's nice to finally own a copy of these classic movies with a cast you couldn't find today. So much talent. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Peter Jacques
5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Drama
Excellent and realistic presentation and interpretation. The box set itself is a worthy way of marketing and preserving these first-class DVDs.
Published 4 months ago by R. BROMHAM
5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Films triple
Brought back memories of Sunday afternoon TV in black and white when I was MUCH younger, a real treat to see these lovely old movies again.
Published 11 months ago by Patricia Buckley
5.0 out of 5 stars Great collection of classics
This is a very good combination of classic Dickens films in a good value package. If you are Charles Dickens fan it is a must.
Published 12 months ago by M. G. Harrington
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent service
What great value to have three such marvellous classic films on one DVD. I bought it for my French neighbour who loves Great Expectations and just hope she can manage without... Read more
Published 12 months ago by A. Hodgson
4.0 out of 5 stars classic films
Just right for a lazy afternoon's viewing when it's raining and cold outside, curled up on the settee with a cup of coffee.
Published 13 months ago by Dympna M. Kelly
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